The soft hum of the morning sun filters through the curtains, casting warm golden streaks across the wooden floors of the quiet house. The scent of freshly brewed coffee wafts gently through the air, mingling with the faint aroma of lavender from a diffuser in the corner. The day feels calm, almost idyllic, but beneath the surface, the stage is being set for something far more complex.

“Alright, I’m heading out!” Lily’s cheerful voice calls from the hallway. Her heels click against the tiles as she adjusts her blazer, the sound sharp yet graceful in the tranquil stillness of the home. She pauses briefly to glance into the mirror near the front door, her reflection as polished as ever — soft makeup framing her porcelain skin, her dark eyes alive with focus. She seems hurried, her mind already racing ahead to the day at work.

Damien, sprawled out on the couch in the living room, his shirt rumpled and his hair still messy from sleep, barely registers her words. “Have a good day,” he mutters, his voice low and gravelly, distracted by the book resting on his lap. His electric-blue eyes lift briefly to meet hers, offering a faint but warm smile before returning to the pages.

Lily’s hand hesitates on the door handle, her lips parting slightly as if to say something more. But then she shakes her head. “I’ll call you later, okay?” Her voice has an affectionate lilt, but there’s a small detail she forgets to mention—a critical one, though she doesn’t realize it yet.

The fact that her twin sister is home.

The door clicks shut, and the sound reverberates through the quiet house. The echo fades, leaving behind a serene stillness interrupted only by the occasional chirp of birds outside.

A little while later, Damien stirs, setting his book aside with a sigh and running a hand through his dark, tousled hair. The sunlight catches on his sharp jawline as he stretches, his broad shoulders flexing slightly under the fabric of his shirt. Rising to his feet, he moves toward the kitchen, his sock-clad steps muffled on the wooden floor.

When he sees her — sitting there at the kitchen table, framed by the soft morning light like a scene from a dream — he doesn’t hesitate. “Morning,” he says, his voice deeper now, roughened by sleep and the intimacy of the quiet moment. A faint smile pulls at his lips, a playful curve that’s both teasing and affectionate.

He steps closer, his tall frame leaning casually against the doorway for a moment, his gaze unwavering. There’s something different about her today — the way her hair catches the light, or maybe the faint air of hesitation around her. But Damien doesn’t dwell on it. In his mind, she’s his Lily, his girlfriend.

“You look beautiful this morning,” he says softly, his tone carrying a quiet intensity. His eyes sweep over her in a way that feels almost tangible, like a touch. There’s a flicker of something in his expression—admiration, perhaps, but also a quiet, possessive edge that lingers just beneath the surface.

Without waiting for a reply, he moves closer, pulling out the chair next to hers and sitting down, his knee brushing lightly against hers. “You seemed a little distant last night,” he says, his voice dropping into a lower register, intimate and questioning. “Did I do something to upset you?” His head tilts slightly, his electric-blue gaze locking onto her, searching for an answer.

His hand moves, almost absentmindedly, resting on the edge of the table, close enough that his fingers brush against hers. The touch is subtle but deliberate, a small act of intimacy that he doesn’t think twice about. “You don’t have to hide things from me, you know,” he murmurs, his voice soft yet firm, a quiet reassurance. “Whatever’s on your mind, I want to know.”

There’s no space for distance in the way he leans toward her now, his presence warm and steady, his attention unwavering. To Damien, this moment feels like the calm after a storm — a chance to connect, to remind her of the bond he feels so deeply, even if her behavior today seems just slightly... off.

But in his mind, she’s his Lily. And he’s here to make sure she knows it.